Hunger Games Books in Order (Best Reading Order)
Publication Order of The Hunger Games Books
- The Hunger Games (2008)
- Catching Fire (2009)
- Mockingjay (2010)
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
Chronological Order of The Hunger Games Books
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
- The Hunger Games (2008)
- Catching Fire (2009)
- Mockingjay (2010)
About The Hunger Games Books
The Hunger Games trilogy is a series of young-adult dystopian novels written by American novelist Suzanne Collins, the first book bears the name of the trilogy. The Hunger Games are a televised annual event in which the Capitol randomly selects a boy and a girl (commonly known as tributes) between the ages of 12 and 18 from each of the twelve districts that comprise the world of Panem, a dystopian future North America. This pits them against each other in a contest to the death from which only one may emerge victorious. The books of the main series are told from the perspective of the female Tribute from District 12, Katniss Everdeen.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of the most popular modern book series ever! It has captivated readers and movie lovers alike and gained an enormous fanbase. With the recent publication of the prequel book, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it now raises the question: What is the best way to read The Hunger Games books?
Who is Suzanne Collins?
Suzanne Collins started her writing career in 1991, working on several children’s TV shows. She later wrote the five-part fantasy/war series, The Underland Chronicles, and the international bestselling The Hunger Games Trilogy. The latter was adapted into four films that grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide. Collins has received multiple awards for her work and has sold over 100 million copies of her books globally. In addition, she has authored two picture books, one of which is autobiographical and has been sold into 12 territories in 11 languages.
Best Hunger Games Reading Order
So with the release of the prequel we now have options as to how to read the books. Is it best to read them in publication order or in chronological order? We don’t think there is much difference here and ultimately you won’t get a massive difference in your experience no matter how you read them. This is because The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set 64 years before The Hunger Games, making it more of a standalone than a direct prequel.
We would recommend reading the main trilogy then the standalone. The main trilogy is much better and we feel as though the prequel adds a minimal amount to the story overall. So see it as a nice addition if you’re a massive fan of the main trilogy.
But if you want to experience the story in the order that it takes place and see how Coriolanus Snow became the person he is in the main trilogy then the chronological order is the way to go!
WARNING: There may be spoilers for some of the books mentioned. These are taken from the official descriptions but can sometimes spoil parts of previous books. So please be careful!
Main Trilogy
- The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games #1
96,000 words, 384 pages, 10 hrs and 35 mins to read.
Published by Scholastic Press
4.33 out of 5 on Goodreads
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games,” a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.
- Catching Fire
The Hunger Games #2
102,000 words, 400 pages, 11 hrs and 3 mins to read.
Published by Scholastic Press
4.31 out of 5 on Goodreads
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just earned for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules, and now there are rumors of rebellion in the districts. Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.
- Mockingjay
The Hunger Games #3
104,000 words, 400 pages, 11 hrs and 19 mins to read.
Published by Scholastic Press
4.07 out of 5 on Goodreads
“My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.”Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Though she’s long been a part of the revolution, Katniss hasn’t known it. Now it seems that everyone has had a hand in the carefully laid plans but her.The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss’s willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels’ Mockingjay – no matter what the cost.
Standalone
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) 
The Hunger Games #0
157,872 words, 528 pages, 16 hrs and 16 mins to read.
Published by Scholastic Press
3.84 out of 5 on Goodreads
It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmanoeuvre his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.
The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favour or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute… and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.
Overall
Suzanne Collins has created one of the most popular modern book series to date and it still gains news fans every day. The prequel book has added a new dimension to the story and gives fans a look at one of the story’s deepest characters.
If you have enjoyed any of Suzanne Collins’ work and want to learn more about her or any other of her work, then feel free to check out her website.
Which one is your favourite or most looking forward to picking up next?
Let us know!
Happy reading!
Total Word Count of The Hunger Games
- Total Words: 459,872
- Total Pages: 1712
- Total Reading/Listening Time: 49 hrs 13 mins
More of the same, but different:
Things to Note:
- Word count is an approximation.
- Amount of pages may differ due to different publications, font style and/or size etc.
- Time spent reading is generally an approximation based on the word count and the average reading time. The average reader will read 250 WPM (Words Per Minute).
- This is the original publisher of the books.
- The current Goodreads score at the time of writing.
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